Local Organizations Support Underrepresented Ohioans in Learning New Skilled Trades with $400,000 from Google

Google is funding four local pre-apprenticeship programs working to lose the equity gap and fill critical workforce needs in central Ohio

COLUMBUS

Today, Google announced that four local pre-apprenticeship programs will receive $100,000 each to support their work, which is focused on getting more underrepresented people into Ohio’s skilled trade industries. The funding will be used by the programs to build their capacity to recruit and train Ohio workers in vital roles such as electricians, carpenters and construction. These organizations partner with contractors and local unions in the area to place graduates in full time jobs where they can continue their journeys to stable careers in construction and the skilled trades.

“Google is thrilled to play a part in all Ohioans getting the training they need to fill critical roles in their communities” said Wendy Peterson, Google’s Regional Head of Workforce Development. “These organizations are focused on ensuring Ohio has a diverse, strong workforce, and helping people get a foothold in high demand, family-wage jobs.”

According to Ohio Means Jobs, there are nearly 250,000 open jobs in Ohio. After the pandemic many sectors have struggled to find workers, including in the skilled trades. Google’s support will assist people who want to fill these positions, but have historically lacked the access to training.

“Construction and skilled trade jobs are the underpinning of so much growth in Ohio. We know these programs not only help the people being trained, but also their surrounding communities. We are thankful to Google for taking an interest in making sure these vital roles are filled by skilled and diverse Ohioans,” said Dorsey Hagar, Executive Secretary-Treasurer at the Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council.

“Marginalized communities have so often been left out when we think about trades. For many workers, a skilled trade job is something that has been out of reach, but programs like these help. Having a diverse workforce isn’t only good for individuals, but also for our region. Opportunities like these will empower our local programs to bolster Ohio’s workforce,” said Nana Watson, President, Columbus NAACP.

These funds are part of a larger effort to connect more Americans to quality training and jobs. This year, Google is contributing $1.2 million dollars in five states where it operates data centers toward education and pre-apprenticeship training programs for the construction trades.

The four organizations each focus on supporting underrepresented individuals getting into the skilled trades:

National Center for Urban Solutions Builders Academy

NCUS Builders Academy Construction Program is a collaborative, pre-apprenticeship workforce training program designed to prepare individuals for construction trades careers in Central Ohio. The organization will use this funding to specifically target African-American, women, restored citizens and other workers displaced by COVID-19.

IMPACT Community Action

Build Up Skilled Trades is designed to provide a pathway to real opportunities for self-sufficiency within the skilled trades. By utilizing NCCER’s industry-recognized curriculum, the interactive training provides foundational knowledge of the skilled construction trades for income-eligible residents of Franklin County.

The Columbus / Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council

Building Futures Program serves individuals that have been traditionally underserved and underrepresented. Building Futures specifically targets minorities and women to increase the diversity of the construction trades, as well as provide a pathway to the middle class for those individuals.

National Skilled Trades Network

NSTN offers NCCER – 1st level Electrical and other Skilled Trades and plans to assist minorities, women and veterans in underserved communities acquire the education needed to become credentialed construction trades workers to fill the workforce needs of the construction industries’ lack of a future trained skilled workforce.